Reading the letters from readers applauding the defeat of Colorado’s civil-unions bill is cause for despair. As someone who is committed to our shared effort to continue to make our society as robust, sustainable and fair as possible, I recognize there are many complex issues that require a subtle understanding of the systems involved. This isn’t one of them.

Colorado’s decision, and those who support it, aren’t just on the wrong side of history, they’re on the wrong side of morality and decency. It is a shameful triumph of hateful bigotry over reason and goodwill, one which imposes only harm and no benefit.

Steve Harvey, Littleton

This letter was published in the April 14 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

Like letter-writers Alan Wostenberg, Eric Krein, and Gene Price, I applaud the death of Senate Bill 172 in committee, but for different reasons.

First, having the good fortune of growing up gay, and realizing when I fell in love that real love is pretty much only a good thing, it is clear to me that civil unions as a concept is inherently discriminatory, a metaphorical “separate but equal.” My partner of 18 years and I will wait for marriage, thank you very much.

And second, the blatantly bigoted treatment of the bill by the House and Judiciary Committee Republican leadership and the committee majority will actually ultimately serve to hasten adoption of genuine marriage equality.

You see, we Americans are basically a just people who believe in our Constitution and its promise of equal treatment under the law. That promise of equality will win out in the end, as it always has.

Wayne Thrash, Denver

This letter was published in the April 14 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

One of the most galling things out of anti-gay marriage opponents is their constant invocation of supposedly disqualifying thresholds that prevent gay couples from enjoying equal marriage rights with straight couples. The most cited threshold is the supposed inability of gay couples to have children. Considering that the legal validity of marriage is not contingent on the presence or absence of children, why do conservatives play this card so much?

Is famously childless conservative Rush Limbaugh’s recent fourth “traditional” marriage somehow not valid under this interpretation of marriage? Any of you “integrity of the family” crowd willing to call out El Rushbo’s serial marriages? Probably not, which is why ultimately you guys will lose this fight in both the court of law as well as the court of public opinion.

Pete Miesel, Broomfield

This letter was published online only. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

Thankfully socially conservative people like reader/writer Eric Krein are around to keep us all straight on what are appropriate comparisons (analogies) and what aren’t. Apparently, since gay couples cannot produce biological children, they can’t be compared to heterosexual couples. These same people like Mr. Krein do not want women to have control over their bodies and that includes obtaining contraception from Planned Parenthood. Yet, should there be an unwanted child that is adopted by a gay couple, this family is somehow deficient as compared to those families with biological children, and therefore gay marriage is invalid.

Ken Lambdin, Centennial

This letter was published online only. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

Your editorial quotes Drug Enforcement Administration figures to question the wisdom of requiring prescriptions for pseudoephedrine, calling it an overreaction. However, the numbers of DEA “discoveries” are hardly accurate indicators of the problem.

Attend some of our outlying Community Corrections meetings and get a reality check. As a longtime member of the Garfield County Community Corrections board, I can report that the meth (self-medication) problem has been, and continues to be, one of the principal reasons (along with alcoholism) for people entering our system. And why not? It’s the cheapest and most accessible formula on the market.

You might also check with states that have passed similar laws, such as Mississippi and Oregon. The New York Times reports that “law enforcement officials there say meth lab seizures have plummeted since the laws were enacted. In Mississippi, which adopted a prescription-only law last year, the authorities say meth lab seizures have dropped by nearly 70 percent.”

As a society, we utilize pharmacies as sensible buffers against addiction and abuse; in my opinion, there are few drugs that warrant this oversight more than pseudoephedrine.

Rick Hilleary, Glenwood Springs

This letter was published in the April 14 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

Re: “Lend pro an ear before hoppin’ down the bunny trail,” April 4 Local Expert column.

I was disappointed by your article about pet rabbits for families. We recently adopted a pair of rabbits from the Colorado House Rabbit Society, and have learned a great deal about keeping rabbits as family pets, as opposed to the livestock attitude expressed by Bonnie Smith of the 4-H. We’ve come a long way from the days of rabbits being raised in hutches in the backyard.

Pet rabbits should be given the same consideration as pet cats and dogs. Rather than contributing to pet overpopulation by buying from breeders and pet stores, think first of adopting rabbits from local shelters. Like cats and dogs, bunnies should be spayed and neutered, not used as a “life lesson” in reproduction for children; this only contributes to the problem of bunnies languishing in shelters, often to be euthanized. People may not realize that, like cats and dogs, bunnies can live comfortably with you in your home instead of being caged outside. With proper care and attention, rabbits can live 10-12 years, not two to eight years, as cited in your article.

Find more information at www.coloradohrs.com or www.rabbit.org.

Jayne Conrad, Westminster

This letter was published in the April 14 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

Re: “U.S. program seeks to pump up E-85 fuel use,” April 9 business news article.

The Obama administration continues its march toward bankrupting our country using our tax monies to subsidize ever-increasing amounts of ethanol. Of course, they’re well-intentioned and meant to ease our oil dependency. But history is now showing that ethanol’s “cons” are far outweighing the “pros.” Evidence is becoming overwhelming that the production of ethanol is not such a good idea anymore. This is a government subsidy that needs to be terminated immediately.

G. Parker, Centennial

This letter was published in the April 14 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

Over the past several decades, the names of many places have changed. For example, Saigon is now Ho Chi Minh City, and Upper Volta is Burkina Faso. More recently, Burma became Myanmar and Bombay, India, is now Mumbai. The media have been quick to use these new names.

When Ivory Coast became independent from France in 1960, it is my understanding that it opted to have Cote d’Ivoire as its official name. So why do the media persist in referring to it as Ivory Coast?

Thomas E. Boyd, Boulder

This letter was published in the April 14 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

Apparently a story on the annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair held this past week at Colorado State University in Fort Collins does not hold the same cache as The Sunday Post’s top story on teen pregnancy. There was no coverage of it at all, even though attempts were made to notify The Post of this amazing event to award students from across the state for their creative, scientific and engineering achievements.

Interestingly enough, the pregnancy story states that “girls choose to have babies when they don’t have a vision of any other options.” Wouldn’t it be a nice counterpoint to show how all of the entrants in the earth science category were almost all girls?

Highlighting efforts like science fair projects as a means to pique the curiosity and ingenuity in children and offering options for further inquiry and study deserves special attention — not just a mere letter to the editor.

Dan Kowal, Louisville

This letter was published in the April 14 edition. For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here.

Guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 150 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address, day and evening phone numbers, and may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.

To reach the Denver Post editorial page by phone: 303-954-1331

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